John Kiely saw his hot favourite Araucaria win the mares maiden hurdle as Ruby Walsh swooped late to pip Model County Lass by three parts of a length to give Kiely the opening two winners at the track.

The gelding went off at 4/5 in a field of 30 mares and Kiely was full of praise for his charge.

He said: "She's always been very genuine in her work and does her best on the racetrack. She is very well bred. It is nice to have a winner for the Hales family." Maggie Connolly finished third for Willie Mullins with Araucaria's main market rival Shop DJ taking fourth place.